Hundreds of students put down their books Monday evening to attend the 26th annual Midnight Breakfast

WASHINGTON - If there's a highlight to the start of finals week at George Washington, Midnight Breakfast is it.

From 10:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday night, three floors of the Marvin Center were transformed into the ultimate study break for students, complete with breakfast food, games and student music and dance performances.

"As a hallmark program, Midnight Breakfast serves as both a stress break before the exam crunch and also a time when students connect one last time as a community, prior to the start of winter break," said Dean of Students Peter Konwerski. "The tradition is loved by students and remembered fondly by a generation of our alumni, particularly when they recall seeing our faculty and staff serve students and wish them well as they embark on exams."

This year's Midnight Breakfast, with the theme "Trespassing Welcome," was co-sponsored by Campaign GW, Marvin Center Governing Board and the National Society of Black Engineers.

President Steven Knapp, Provost Steven Lerman and his wife, Lori; Robert Chernak, senior vice president for student and academic support services; GW Alumni Association President Jim Core, M.A. '96; Senior Associate Dean of Students Mark Levine; Director of Athletics and Recreation Patrick Nero; Head Women's Basketball Coach Mike Bozeman; and Executive Director of Parent Services Rodney Johnson were just some of the servers on hand at the buffets, offering up a number of breakfast favorites, including scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese, French toast sticks, pancakes and breakfast potatoes.

"Midnight Breakfast is one of my favorite university traditions," said Mr. Levine. "Where else am I going to have the opportunity to serve quiche to students?"

In Columbian Square, a model of the Mount Vernon Campus Shuttle, made out of French toast sticks and marshmallows, won the food building competition, judged by Dr. Knapp and Dr. Lerman.

On the third floor, students could enter into a raffle to win board games, play Jenga and take pictures wearing construction gear in the Grand Ballroom.
Students were also entertained with performances from a number of student groups, including Balance: The GW Ballet Group, Capital Funk, The Sirens, Forbidden Planet Productions and GW Troubadours.

For freshmen Rachael Bevill and Lauren Smith, Midnight Breakfast was the perfect study break. Ms. Bevill, who is majoring in biomedical engineering, said she did not expect to be served breakfast by George Washington staff members.

"It was kind of interesting having Steven Knapp give me my quiche," said Ms. Bevill.
A dramatic literature major, Ms. Smith said the event was a "nice welcome" to finals.
"It's been stressful so far this week, so this is a nice break," she said.

Midnight Breakfast also marked the closing of the Hippodrome, the university's site for bowling and billiards. To honor the landmark, students used permanent markers to cover one of its walls with their messages and memories of the space. Dr. Knapp, Student Association President John Richardson and Chairman of the Marvin Center Governing Board Dylan F. Pyne also gave remarks.

Calling it a bittersweet moment, Dr. Knapp recalled some of his fond memories of the Hippodrome and urged students to take "one last shot" at the bowling lanes.
"[The Hippodrome] has been a real important hang out for our university and for our students," he said, adding that it will continue to be a student space. "This is [now] going to be a great center for activity, advice and service for our students."